Wild Kat (11 page)

“I
have not seen them anywhere and I did not ask, but it is a good thing I am home
because the shelves are bare and he would surely starve if I had not come to
save him.”

“Is
there anything else I can interest you in today beside the pecan trees?”  Jacob
leaned on the counter tapping a rhythm. It was his habit when he could smell a
sale.

“Yes,
would you happen to have a checkerboard?”  She grinned.

“Let
me look in the store room, you look at those trees while you’re waiting.”  Kat
wandered out the back door and noticed Jacob had put an addition on.  The
shelves of the new addition were stocked with cans of preserves, jellies, pickles,
fruits and vegetables and there were crates of fresh vegetables.  She dragged a
basket out from under the bottom shelf.  She filled it with tomatoes, cucumbers
and cabbages.  The next basket she filled with melons and potatoes and onions. 
“Did you find the trees Kat?”  Jacob called.

“Not
yet, I found something better.  When did this room come about?  I did not know
all of this was here Jacob.  I am certainly not finished shopping, not now. 
And who canned all of this?”  Jacob leaned up against the doorway grinning at
her now.

“I
added this on while you were locked up.  I forgot you did not know about it. 
Missus Brown has built one of those greenhouses and has been growing these fine
things for the past two years.  She has nothing to do since her boys married
and moved away.  You should see it Kat. It is a giant glass atrocity, she
ordered it from a catalog if you can believe it and you should have seen the
sheriff trying to climb the shaky ladder to build it.”  He slapped his knee
laughing.  “She has trees, gardens of fruit and vegetables and flowers too. 
She rents the shelf space and I sell it for her.”

“This
is amazing Jacob.” She lifted a pear to her nose and inhaled it’s scent.  “I
have filled those baskets and I want all these preserves.”  She pointed. 
“Thomas will have to help us carry it all out.  This will really help us out,
what a wonderful idea.  Will you tell Missus Brown I surely do appreciate it?”

“I
am sure she will appreciate it as well.”  Jacob picked up one of the baskets
and carried it to the long wooden counter where the checkerboard waited.  Kat
followed with an armful of colorful jars.  “She was so sure that this would
make her rich she promised the sheriff that the greenhouse would pay for itself
in a year and if it didn’t he could tear it down.  I don’t think he would
because it keeps her at home and out of his hair.  She took to shopping and
spending time at his office when the youngest married and I think she was
driving him crazy.”  Jacob giggled wickedly.

“What
have you done?”  Thomas filled the door as he came into the dim store. “Have
you bought Jacob out?”

“I
am not finished by any means.  Why don’t you and Jacob go chew the fat and I
will browse more.  That back room is full of wonderful things. I am just
getting started.”

Jacob
sat at the pickle barrel where a checker game was in progress without players. 
He moved the pieces to their starting points.  “Care to play Thomas?”

“Sure
Jacob.  I used to be pretty good at this.”  Thomas sat in the chair opposite
Jacob.  “Do you think the wagon will hold it all?”

“I
will load my own up for her if need be.  She was always my best customer,
whether she bought anything or not.”  Jacob laughed, “I‘m red and your dead!” 
Kat carried more jars and baskets out.  The nut trees were the last items she
piled up at the counter.  The scent of the brine in the pickle barrel where the
checkerboard lay was getting to Thomas.  It began to sour his stomach and he
was thankful she was finished shopping.  Jacob totaled her purchases and said
he would put them on her account.  Thomas began to carry the things outside and
load the wagon.  He inhaled the sweet smell of fresh air and manure.

“Did
you get everything you needed Kat?”

“I
believe so Jake.  I hope I haven’t starved everyone else in town.”  She laughed
and tossed her braid over her shoulder.  “I wonder if Julie is nearly finished
at the dress shop.  She is worse than I am shopping.”  Jacob looked Kat’s pile
over and grinned.

“I
do not know Kat, this is a tall order.”  Jacob helped them carry their items to
the wagon and load them.  Julie sat in the front waiting patiently.  Kat paid
her no attention whatsoever.    When Kat finally climbed into the wagon beside
her she knew Julie was livid.

“How
could you order all these ugly things Kat?  They are horrid. Your dressmaker
obviously has talent but these dresses are all black and gray.  They are also
big enough to fit a cow.”  Julie’s big green eyes were filled with tears.

“You
said you were widowed Julie, and you just had babies. I gave her the
measurements you gave me.  I cannot help it if you lied.  If you had not been
in mourning I would have chosen bright colors.  It is your own fault, but I am
sorry.”  Kat felt bad for her.

“You
are right, I should not have lied.  I was just so angry with him.”

“Maybe
you can use them for diapers.”  Kat and Julie laughed together now.  Julie put
her arm around her sister. 

“I
am sorry we never got along as children.  You have turned into a bright and
witty young woman Kat.”

“I
wanted to but it always seemed like I was in the way.” Kat scooted closer to
Julie when Thomas climbed up.  He flicked the reins and the wagon lurched.

“Do
not scoot closer to me, scoot closer to him.”  Julie whispered in her ear.  “He
is your husband now.”  She nudged her with her elbow.

“That
does not make me anymore comfortable with him.”  Kat whispered and nudged her back. 
Thomas smiled looking out over the terrain away from them. He could hear every
word.

“Get
comfortable Kat, I would not let him out of my bed for a week and I will bet he
has not had the pleasure of your company yet has he?”  Kat shook her head. 
“Really Kat and on your wedding night too.  I knew it.” Julie was disgusted.  
Thomas turned the wagon down the road to the Crenshaw ranch.  “I would take
care of that as soon as possible Kat.  The sooner, the better.”  Julie told her
when she climbed down.

“Hello
Kat!”  Missus Crenshaw called from the porch and came out to meet the wagon. 
“I made that cobbler for you.  I packed preserves and the recipe in the
basket.  I hope your marriage is as long and as sweet as mine has been.”  She
handed the basket to Kat. 

“It
smells delicious Missus Crenshaw.  I cannot wait to dig into it.”

“You
keep the pan I bought it for you.  There is one condition on that recipe
though. You cannot enter it in the fair.”

“Yes
ma’am, I would not try to beat you with your own recipe.”  Kat smiled.

“Enjoy
it, Thomas you make sure you get some too.”  She laughed now.  Thomas waved. 
He turned the wagon around and started home. 

“I
might not make it home this smells wonderful.”  She held her nose over the pan
of cobbler.  Thomas flicked the reins. His stomach grumbled its complaint.

When
they arrived home, they rushed into the house to eat.  The wagon sat loaded in
front of the porch. Kat ate until she thought she would burst.  “If I did not
have to move I would eat one more helping.”  Thomas wiped his mouth.  “But I
have work to do.”

“I
don’t think I can move.”  Kat held her belly.  “That was better than it
smelled.  If that is possible.”

“I
know why she wins at the fair.”  Thomas carried their plates to the washtub.

Kat
put her things away while Thomas loaded her root cellar and tended the horse. 
She took her new checkerboard out of its box and set up the pieces.  She loved
the game as a child and played often with her father.  They both enjoyed it
until Julie threw the board into the fire in a fit of anger when she lost.  “It
is getting warm outside.  You bought a board?  I did not know you played
checkers Kat.”  He came in mopping his brow.

“I hope
you like to play.”  She looked up at him from the pieces she arranged.

“I
will play now if you like.”  Thomas offered.  He was unbuttoning his shirt and
pulling it off.

“Are
you thirsty?  Do you want some water?”  She was already getting up to fetch it.

“You
read my mind.”  She poured two glasses and brought the pitcher with her.

They
moved pieces around for a long time before Thomas finally beat her.  All she
could think about were the deeply tanned bulging muscles across the table.  She
found herself wanting to touch them.  Thomas noticed where her mind and eyes
spent most of their time, but said nothing, nor did he offer to put his shirt
back on.  Instead he stretched, raising his arms high above his head for her. 
It accentuated every rippling chord, every hill and valley.

“Do
you want to play again?” His voice husky as his fingers grazed her arm.

“What? 
Oh yes, I would like to play again.   I will beat you this time.”  Thomas
raised an eyebrow.

“Would
you care to wager on that?”  His gray eyes twinkled with mischief.

“What
will we wager?”  She looked up from the board her eyes alight and ready for the
challenge.

“I
think a kiss is appropriate.” He noticed her sharp intake of breath.

“What
do I get if I win?”  She was skeptical.

“Breakfast
in bed?”  Her smile grew bright.

“It’s
a bet.  I can smell the coffee now.”  She spit on her hand and stuck it out to
shake on the bet.  Thomas looked at it strangely before taking it.

When
the last King was jumped, Thomas smiled broadly.  “Come here my love,” he wiggled
his finger at her, beckoning, “I want to collect my prize.”  He patted his
knee.

“Double
or nothing?” She looked worried.

“Two
kisses or none? “ He paused. His forefinger tapped his temple.   “No, I think I
will take my kiss now.”   Kat was afraid to trust herself so close to the
beautiful, brown chest.  She swallowed hard and pushed her chair back.  It
screeched across the floor.  She took the two difficult steps it took to get to
him.  She bent toward him and leaned for his cheek.  He turned strategically to
capture her lips.  Kat jumped away.  “Play again?” He asked.

“Yes,
I still want my breakfast in bed.  This time I will jump all your men before
you get one king.”  She grinned defiantly.

“We
shall see Missus Woods.”  Thomas rearranged the board to play again.  “I will
let you go first since you seem to need all the help you can get.”  He goaded
her.   Kat moved her men and took the advantage.  She would clearly win this
time, with his kiss still fiery in her mind; she did something she had never in
her life done before.  Kat lost on purpose.

“Double
or nothing?”  She whined to make it seem real.  Thomas shook his head and
patted his lap.  His smile was broad and bright showing even, white teeth.  She
chewed her lip thoughtfully as she pushed the screeching chair back.  She
crossed the small space much quicker this time and plopped down in his lap. 
Her arms went around his neck and her fingers smoothed the blond curls at the
back of his neck.  Thomas’ tongue brushed her’s and glided across her teeth.

“Care
to play again or would you rather go upstairs?”  His lips a mere whisper
away.   Her eyes snapped open, she was panic stricken.

“I
have to plant my trees.  Thanks for the game.”    She raced out the back door
letting it slam.  She looked the trees over and measured fifty paces from the
house at each corner.  Thomas watched her and he was amused with all the
measuring she did.  He walked out to the barn and fetched the shovel.  Thomas
looked up at the sun’s position and started digging.    He dug the four holes
in a line about forty feet apart and seventy feet from the house.  Kat saw this
and wandered over to him as he worked on the last hole.  “May I ask what you
are doing?”  She surveyed his holes.

“I
am going to plant those trees of yours then I am going to eat my supper.”  He
continued to dig.  Kat watched the hole grow large enough for the root ball of
the tree. 

“But
that’s not where I want them.  I want one on each corner and I want them closer
to the house.”  The rich black earth was piling up.

“This
way they will block the morning sun and your kitchen will be cooler.  Our
parlor will not be freezing from winter wind and the bedroom will not be so
warm in the evenings in the summertime.  Also they will eventually block our
beautiful view of the field.  They are far enough from the house and the roots
will not invade the cellar.  If we put them on the corners the roots will push
the house right off its foundation.”  He brought her trees over to their fresh
holes.

“How
do you know so much about trees Thomas?”  She looked at him curiously.

“I
have planted a few in my time.”  She watched him from her seat on the back
porch.  She was sitting on the top step with her elbows on her knees.  She
should not have run away from him.  She watched his strong back as he worked. 
The muscles flexed and bulged with each movement.  She should have gone upstairs
with him.  She loved Thomas.  He was kind and a gentleman and her husband.  He
was nice to look at and she adored the way his hair felt in her fingers.  His
kisses were so gentle, and his arms felt so right around her.